An RGG sequence in the replication-associated protein (Rep) of Tomato yellow leaf curl Sardinia virus is involved in transcriptional repression and severely impacts resistance in Rep-expressing plants

Truncated versions of the replication-associated protein (Rep) of Tomato yellow leaf curl Sardinia virus (TYLCSV) can interfere with various viral functions, and the N-terminal 130 aa are sufficient for strongly inhibiting C1-gene transcription and virus replication and confer resistance in transgenic plants. In this work, we analysed the relevance of an RGG sequence at aa 124-126, highly conserved in begomoviruses, in these inhibitory functions as well as in the subcellular localization of Rep. Although no role of this RGG sequence was detected by cell fractionation and immunogold labelling in Rep localization, this sequence appears relevant for the transcriptional control of the C1-gene and for the inhibition of viral replication and dramatically impacts resistance in transgenic plants. These results are discussed in the context of the model of Rep-mediated resistance against TYLCSV